According to a Ministry of Energy source, natural gas supplies from Egypt declined to some 80 million cubic feet (mcf) per day since Saturday, one-third of the 240mcf rate outlined in the gas agreement between Amman and Cairo.

Although Egypt has refused to disclose the reasons behind the drop, officials link the shortage with the ongoing instability and riots that have gripped the country since late Friday.

“There is a feeling that whenever anything goes wrong in Egypt, the first thing that goes is Jordan’s gas supplies,” said the source, who was not authorised to speak to the press.

Egyptian officials have not indicated when gas supplies will resume in full, according to the source, but the government is expected to demand compensation for the decreased quantities.

The drop comes one month after Egypt pledged to resume pumping in full after nearly two years of disruptions.

The drop in Egyptian gas supplies has forced Jordan onto costlier heavy oil imports, which has ballooned the national energy bill to some JD4.4 billion and pushed the cost of electricity subsidies to over JD1 billion.